When I first saw Mastura's beautiful designs on her website,I was particularly enchanted by the mastery of her craftsmanshipand her wonderful dragonfly pieces, so I asked her for aninterview.

She very kindly agreed, even though she is currently extremelybusy working on some new pieces for a fashion designer whowill be showcasing her clothes, together with Mastura'shandcrafted jewellery, for the Maylasian International FashionWeek 2010.

WHAT IS YOUR BACKGROUND AND HOW DID YOU GET INTOJEWELLERY MAKING?

I am a graduate in Business Management (transport and logistics).For 5 years I worked as a PA, but quit to be a stay-home mom andraise my kids, especially as I needed to help my son who was diagnosedwith delayed development and attention deficit.

I have been crafting since childhood, but for the last 15 years, I haveseriously devoted any available time to crafting whilst being at homeraising my children and for 15 years I did everything, but jewelry making!

However, it was not until late in 2008, when I decided to repair a broken bracelet for myself, that I began my journey into jewelry making. One thing led to another and when I discovered wirework jewelry, itwas the beginning of the most interesting crafting journey I have evertaken! There is nothing I would rather do now, than tinker with mywires and pliers :)

DO YOU HAVE ANY FORMAL TRAINING?

No. I do not have any formal training where jewelry making isconcerned. I am 100% self-taught in every crafting journeyI have ever undertaken. I learn by reading a lot, as well as doingon-line research.

WHAT'S THE INSPIRATION BEHIND YOUR DESIGNS?

Inspiration comes from my fascination with everything mysticaland ethereal. I have this fantasy-like imagination. My own ethnicMalay culture also has a huge influence towards some ofthe jewelry pieces I design.

DO YOU HAVE A FAVOURITE DESIGN AND WHY?

I like intricate pieces. My favorite design would be thefiligree components, such as my 'CHARLOTTE'S WEB PENDANT'.I later combined the pendant components togetherto make one piece - the example being: 'AMAZON NECKLACE'.

Another favorite design that you can see on my website:

http://www.whimsicalnquirky.com.myis the dragonfly babies.

HOW DO YOU PROMOTE AND SELL YOUR WORK?

I promote and sell my work through my blog.http://www.whimsicalnquirky.blogspot.comI do not have a retail shop nor a workshop.Everything is sold online.

To help promote my online shop, other than marketing throughsocial network sites, I also distribute ECO cotton bags withevery sale and workshop.

TELL US ABOUT YOUR TEACHING AND TUTORIALS?

Initially, I started teaching from home on a small scale. Itwas more about sharing knowledge, because during that timeI didn't charge any fees at all. It was a way of gainingconfidence and experience and teaching friends at homeprovided good practice and training.

I started to make simple tutorials to help assist with myteaching and now I write Tutorials seriously, to help meearn some extra income. It is tough when I have to doeverything by myself and I admit that I sometimes findmyself laughing at all the ridiculous angles I have to bein, just to take one picture shot for a tutorial!

When I write Tutorials, they are not just for creatingearrings, necklaces or bracelets, but more for teachingothers how to make one new component or technique. This, together with added creativity can become a unique jewelry piece.Each tutorial is original, illustrating differenttechniques.

IS THERE ANY ADVICE YOU WOULD PASS ON TOSOMEONE GETTING STARTED?

When making jewelry, never limit yourself, do not be afraidto make mistakes and be experimental! Only through trialand error can you improve and find what you're good at andwhat you like, or don't like to make.

WHAT ARE YOUR ASPIRATIONS AND GOALS FORTHE FUTURE?

My aspiration is to continue to be a freelance instructorand designer and to write as many jewelry making Tutorialsas I can with each one bearing a different technique, so thatI can continue inspiring and helping others to be betterwire crafters.

I do have big dreams and goals that I will one day be ableto get a book published and share all the knowledge thatI have with crafters worldwide.

The most important thing of all, is to be a living exampleto my children, that with knowledge, determination andhard work, ANYTHING is possible when you put your mind to it!

Friday, 15 October 2010

As the Guild is starting to growinto a larger group - which by theway, is fantastic!... there are lots of you talented,artistic wireworkers out there, havingfun creating stunning and beautifulhandcrafted pieces and so I waswondering, if any of you would beinterested in a Wirework Challenge?

This would entail designing and creatinga piece from scratch under a given themeand then emailing an image (JPEG) tobe published on this blog newsletter,together with few descriptive wordsabout the piece.This is not a competition in the conventionalsense - no one will judge. There will be nowinner. Just everyone who wishes to takepart will have the opportunity of showingoff their work and having it published onthe Guild blog.So you will in effect, all bewinners!WIREWORK CHALLENGE***R U L E S ***

*Theme: Flowing Streams

*Deadline for entries: 1st December 2010

*Maximum of 2 Jpeg images are allowed tobe submitted.

*Wire has to be the MAIN material, but anyother materials can be incorporated withinthe piece.

*The entry can be a piece of jewellery,or an accessory ...

*A description is encouraged, but notessential with 100 words being maximum.

I also was recently involved in a BEADINGCHALLENGE, whereby, I was sent a packof mystery beads and findings by:

www.beadsdirect.co.uk

and challenged to design anything I wishedwith them. You can see the results on their blog,together with two other designers, whowere also sent the same pack of mysterybeads ... take a look on their website blog, and seehow the three designers have used the samebead pack in such different ways:just scroll down to see the results on:

www.beadsdirect.co.uk/blog/

(...and below are some of the pieces I created, justin case, you don't get a chance to see the Beads Directblog ... )

The mystery pack contained, 2 smalldiamante heart buckles - I struggledto think what to do ... and then cameup with this idea of threading themwith satin ribbons and turning thebuckles into chokers - perfect forbridesmaid/flower girl or prom jewellery.

Not only were there diamante buckles in themystery pack but shiny silver rings. So I usedthe last of the beads to make this morecontemporary jewellery set of long necklacechain and matching earrings.(Beads Direct Challenge by L. Jones)So I hope you are now ready for the WireWork Challenge - you wont be senta mystery pack due to the postal globaldifficulties, so you can use whatever's inyour stash, as long as WIRE is the mainingredient and you keep the theme ofFLOWING STREAMS in your mind -as your piece will be labelled with thattitle. Please don't be put off or discouraged to enterif you're just a beginner -nothing is too small, too simple, etc...just taking part if ENOUGH!

So get your creative "thinking caps" onand I very much look forward to seeingyour entries and publishing them ...

Kelley not only creates stunning, bespoke jewellerypieces, but her designs also grace clothing andgifts. She is also an author and gifted painter offantasy artworks.

Read on, to hear my recent interview withKelley ...

(Above: SECRET GARDEN ring)

HOW DID YOU GET INTO JEWELLERY MAKING?

Completely by accident! I have never worn much jewelryand I still don't wear much, but there is one type of jewelrythat I have always liked and that is, wire jewelry! I've alwaysbeen creative, with multiple interests, so here's the backstoryof how I stumbled into making my wire creations...

For years I wrote fiction and after years of rejection, I had onenovel published. I decided to make a genre switch, but thespark for fiction writing was gone, so I chose to take thecorrespondence course offered by Art Instruction Schools,based in Minneapolis, something I had wanted to do sincehigh school. After graduating from Arts Instruction Schools,I was taking some classes in Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator and'digital prepress' with the intention of selling prints of my workand pursuing the possibility of licensing my art, when I discovereda course on basic wire jewelry while thumbing through the catalogfor University of New Mexico's continuing education division. The pricewas reasonable, so I followed my whim and enrolled. Despite spendingthe first fifteen or twenty minutes of my first class in the restroomtrying to stop the bleeding after an accident with the wire ... I washooked! ... no pun intended!!

DO YOU HAVE ANY FORMAL TRAINING OR EXPERIENCE FROMA PREVIOUS BACKGROUND?I worked for several years in a flower shop and I loved to do weddingsand proms, which included wired bouquets, headpieces and corsages.So I think that has translated a great deal into my wire work. Unlikewhen I was writing, or when I am sketching or painting, my wirecreations often emerge with little planning. I do draw the occasionaljewelry design, but for the most part, the design just evolves as I work.

(Above: Jade Hoop Earrings)

WHAT FUELS OR INSPIRES YOUR DESIGNING?

I think I find nature most inspirational. I'm inspired byartists of the Art Nouveau period: so that stylised natureoften finds its way into my work. I rarely use perfectlooking stones because I love interesting textures andcolors: there's a certain beauty in natural imperfection.I like the texture and contrast of mixing the 'bling' of crystalsand cubic zirconia with the earthiness of copper or simplestones.

(Above: Art Nouveau inspired earrings)

YOU ARE A MULTI-MEDIA ARTIST - TELL USWHICH IS YOUR FAVOURITE MEDIUM TO WORK IN?

All of my jewelry has some element of wire wrapping, whetherI am working with polymer clay, natural stones, or some kindof metal clay. Therefore, in jewelry, I would say my favoritemedium is WIRE. In other artwork, I love watercolor painting,and drawing with colored pencil, as well as plain ol' graphitepencil.

(Above: Red Shell Necklace)

HOW DO YOU PROMOTE AND SELL YOUR WORK?Beyond business cards and simple flyers, I haven't yet donemuch official advertising, but I do have a website and a blog:

http://www.kellscreations.com

http://www.kellscreations.com/blog

and I enjoy interacting with people on my Kell's CreationsFacebook page at:http://www.facebook.com/kellscreationsI have submitted pictures of some of my designs to themagazines: 'Step by Step Wire Jewelry' and 'Bead Trends'which has been promotional for my work. I sell my work atcraft fairs throughout New Mexico, where I live, and I alsosell in a couple of local shops and a Gallery. I've been teachingclasses for about a year now and I find that very satisfying as well.

(Above: Secret Garden ring)DO YOU HAVE A FAVOURITE DESIGN?

What often happens is that I have a favorite design for alittle while, until the next favorite design comes along!Right now, one of my favorite designs is a polymer clayseahorse collar, featuring sea glass wrapped in sterlingsilver, pearls and abalone shell.

(Above: Seahorse Necklace)

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE SOMEONE LOOKINGTO START A JEWELRY BUSINESS?

I'm still fairly new to the jewelry business, but one thing I doknow is that there is lots of competition. Making jewelry is ahobby for many and craft shows and fairs are often inundatedwith jewelry artists who want to sell their wares. So, work ondeveloping a unique style or a "look' that is all of your own.People will try and copy you and people will also dismiss youas "just another jewelry maker", so you have to constantly bewilling to grow and offer your customers that extra value thatonly comes through your vision and personality. I'm buildingslowly, buying new equipment as I can afford it, learning newtechniques as I can and I have found this approach has workedvery well for me.

WHAT HAS BEEN THE HIGHLIGHT OF YOUR CAREER SO FAR?

It's great fun seeing my work published in magazines such as'Step by Step Wire Jewelry' and 'Bead Trends', but so far:winning the silver medal in the 2010 Fire Mountains GemsMetal Clay, Metal Beads, Wirework & Chain contest in thenecklace category, has really been a fantastic experiencebecause I hadn't been working with metal clay for very long.Actually, I've only been making jewelry for a little over threeyears, so each new milestone is a highlight. I really love hearingpeople tell me how unique my jewelry is. That makes me feel great!

(Above: Faerie Carnival Necklace)

CAN YOU LET US IN ON ANY OF YOUR FUTURE PLANS?I want to continue teaching, adding some intermediate andpossibly advanced classes in 2011. One of these days, I wouldalso love to teach on a cruise ship or in an exciting foreignlocale. I've also toyed with the idea of someday translatingmy writing experience to a book, or books about mixedmedia jewelry.